It is a rare thing when a seemingly simple indie four piece from London establishes themselves so quickly with one bold and unmistakable leap within their debut album. Gengahr undoubtedly do this in A Dream Outside, and don’t they do it well. It’s still in the upbeat indie pigeonhole, but every song does all it can to dent the sides of that box. Hazy, dreamy, unusual and brilliant.

Opener ‘Dizzy Ghosts’ exhibits a straightforward Gengahr formula – soft and sweet verses with simple falsetto melodies before a playful and mesmerising chorus leaves you singing it over and over in your head until it almost becomes a mantra. Each song flows wonderfully into the next, and before you know it the album is halfway through.

Singles ‘Heroine’ and ‘She’s A Witch’ complement one another perfectly, in them everything seems so simple and sweet, and each sound comes together to create something special and not easily forgotten. The album has its mellow and sombre moments though; ‘Bathed In Light’ and ‘Lonely as a Shark’ show Gengahr’s other side, allowing you to take a brief breather before they send you straight back into the joyful haze.

Each song has been thought through and every possibility considered and tested. This is most obvious in the album closer ‘Trampoline’, a perfect and stunning ending, softly waking you from the dream state so you can quickly return to the start of the album and delve into the depths again. There is no filler song, every track has been done to its full potential, and every piece has its stand-alone merits. Notably ‘Fill My Gums With Blood’ and ‘Powder’ prove how unmistakable Gengahr’s sound is, both songs will easily fit into any relaxed festival playlist and the former will surely be circulating the radio this summer.

Luke Humphrey